But I can't ride even if I took the horse and you ran behind, and the oxen haven't come." "Perhaps you could borrow Miss Marnham's cart in which to run away from her," I suggested sarcastically.
"Perhaps, though I believe it would be fatal to my foot to sit up in a cart for the next few days, and the horses seem to have been sent off somewhere.

Look here, old fellow," he went on, dropping his bantering tone, "it's rather awkward to make a fool of oneself over a lady who is engaged to some one else, especially if one suspects that with a little encouragement she might begin to walk the same road.

The truth is I have taken the fever pretty bad, worse than ever I did before, and if it isn't stopped soon it will become chronic." "Oh no, Anscombe, only intermittent at the worst, and African malaria nearly always yields to a change of climate." "How can I expect a cynic and a misogynist to understand the simple fervour of an inexperienced soul--Oh! drat it all, Quatermain, stop your acid chaff and tell me what is to be done.
Really I am in a tight place." "Very; so tight that I rejoice to think, as you were kind enough to point out, that my years protect me from anything of the sort.
I have no advice to give; I think you had better ask it of the lady." "Well, we did have a little conversation, hypothetical of course, about some friends of ours who found themselves similarly situated, and I regret to say without result." "Indeed.

I did not know you had any mutual acquaintances.

What did she say and do ?" "She said nothing, only sighed and looked as though she were going to burst into tears, and all she did was to walk away.